Amid Diwali rush, the Indian Railways has announced the scrapping of flexi-fare completely in 15 trains and partially in 32 trains. However, the passengers are yet to get the benefits from rationalised flexi-fare scheme.

If you wonder why then the answer is simple. The Indian Railways has an advanced booking period of 120 days. So the tickets for the month of November, December, January and February have either been already sold or have been put up for sale. Also, the public transporter will have to make changes in the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) accordingly. Only, thereafter the tickets without flexi fare will be available for sale. This means if you have planned your journey in any of these trains in March, you will be able to book cheaper tickets.

Railways has already said that the benefits will be available to passengers only after the changes in the PRS.

"Changes shall be implemented from Advance Reservation Period (ARP) i.e. 4 months after making necessary changes in Passenger Reservation System, on an experimental basis for six months to be further extended after assessing its outcome," it has said.

But will you be getting a refund for the tickets booked well before the railways flexi-fare scrapping announcement?

In all possible scenario, the answer is no. Just because the benefits of new flexi-fare rules will be applicable on tickets sold in March. So, if you have booked your tickets in advance, you will not be getting refund for the extra amount you paid under the flexi-fare scheme.

Railways has reduced flexi fares from 1.5 to 1.4 times the base ticket fare in 101 trains, Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

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The railways has also planned to give graded discounts in fares for all classes of current Flexi-Fare trains, four days prior to the scheduled date of the train starting from the originating station.

"To increase the occupancy of less patronised classes (2A, 3A, CC etc.), Graded discount of 20% on last fare on all trains with Flexi Fare and Humsafar Trains where occupancy of a particular class is less than 60% (4 days prior to scheduled departure of the train). Further, 10% discount will be offered on last fare in trains with 70-80% occupancy and 20% on last fare in trains with up to 70% occupancy.," railways has sid.

However, there won't be any discount for trains with above 80% occupancy.

Check the list of trains with occupancy less than 50% (2017-18) from which Flexi Fare will be removed in 2018-19:

Check the list of trains with occupancy between 50%-75% (2017-18) from which Flexi Fare will be removed in the lean period of 2018-19:

The rationalisation of the flexi fare scheme will boost the occupancy by 10 to 20 per cent, expect the railways.